Pneumatic actuating unit.



N. MAGNUSON.

PNEUMATIC AOTUATING UNIT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1912.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

Inventor. Nels Magnysan eflzlorn ey.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELS MAGNUSON, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PACKARD COMPANY,OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

PNEUMATIC ACTUATING UNIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

Application filed June 18, 1912. Serial No. 704,302.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NELs MAGNUSON, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Fort Vayne, in the county ofAllen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pneumatic Actuating Units, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to pneumatic actuating units for automaticmusical instruments such as player pianos and has for its object toprovide a device of the class specified, wherein the valve box isremovably secured in operative relation to the other portions of saidunit and is interchangeable with others of its kind in such position.

My improvements comprise means illustrated in their preferred form inthe drawings accompanying this specification, wherein Figure 1 is avertical sectional elevation of my improved unit. Fig. 2 is a similarview showing that unit with the valve box removed. Fig. 3 is a similarview of the removed valve box. Fig. 4 is a plan view of what is shown inFig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of what is shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 6 and 7are a sectional elevation and a front view, respectively, of amodification of my improvements.

The usual tension box 2 having tension chamber 3 therein may be of suchlength as to serve a plurality of main pneumatics as 1 secured to oneface thereof. Tension box 2 is so proportioned as to provide an angularspace 5 for the reception of valve Said valve box is internally of knownconstruction having channel 7 leading from its upper face to diaphragmchamber 8 under the usual disk valve 9. Said valve is located in chamber10 having an outward opening channel 11 from said valve box. Passage 12connects tension chamber 3 with channel 7 and passage 13 in said tensionbox connects channel 11 with main pneumatic 4.

Chamber 8 is provided with the usual diaphragm 14 for actuating valve 9by meansof stem 16. Pipe 15 connects that portion of chamber 8 belowdiaphragm 14 with air inlet means not shown. Air channel 17 is providedin tension box 2 for communication with chamber 10 through opening 18 invalve box 6 when that box is in operative position relatively to saidtension chamber.

Valve box 6 is provided at one end thereof with wedge shaped member 190for engagement with similar shaped notch 19 in thelower part of tensionbox 2 for forcing said valve box toward its seat on said tension boxwhen said tension box is pushed in wardly to the right, Figs. 1 and 2.Said wedge shaped means 190, 19 are eflicient for conjointly locatingand securing one end of said valve box in its operative relations to thetension box and main pneumatic. The other end of said valve box isprovided with spring clip 20 for engagement with ledge 21 of the tensionbox for seating that end of said valve box against the tension box andsecuring it in its seated position under tension. Ledge 21 is providedwit-h a slight dep-ressiono22'on its engaging face to counteract anytendency of spring clip 20 to be come disengaged from ledge 21 afterbeing pushed into place thereon.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a modification of improvements forsecuring the outer end of valve box 6 in position relatively to theother parts of the pneumatic unit. Lever 25 is pivotally attached at 26to the outer end of said valve box. Said lever is provided with aninwardly and downwardly reaching hook 27 for engagement with cam slot 28in block 29 fixed to tension box 2. Said cam slot 28 is of such contouras to draw hook 27 and valve box 26 to which lever 25 is attached,inwardly and upwardly as that lever is swung in engagement with saidslot in anticlockwise direction, Fig. 7 Said valve box, after wedgeshaped members 190, 19 are in engagement, may be thus drawn upwardly andinwardly to the right, Figs. 1 and 2, by means of said lever inengagement with said cam path.

My improvements thus provide means for removing and replacing the valveboxes in a pneumatic device of the character specified by means of thehand only and without the use of tools of any kind. My improvedconstruct-ion therefore adds greatly to the rapidity and ease with whichrepairs and replacements may be made.

I claim:

1. A pneumatic unit including in combi nation, a tension box, a mainpneumatic, a valve box removably secured to said tension box and inoperative communication with both the tension box and the mainpneumatic, and means carried by the valve box for engaging fixed meanson the tension box for forcing said valve box into operative relations,respectively, with said tension box and main pneumatic and for securingsaid valve box in said relations.

2. A pneumatic unit including in combination, a tension box having twowalls rela tively disposed at an angle, a valve box removably secured toboth of said walls, a main pneumatic mounted on the tension box, apassage through one of said walls from said tension box to said valvebox, and a passage through the other of said walls from said mainpneumatic to said valve box.

3. A pneumatic unit including in combination, a tension box, a mainpneumatic mounted thereon, a valve box in operative communication withboth said tension box and main pneumatic, and means independent of anyother valve box for forcing said valve box into operative relations,respectively, with said tension box and main pneumatic and for securingsaid valve box in said operative relations.

l. A pneumatic unit including in combination, a tension box, a mainpneumatic, a valve box removably secured to said tension box and inoperative communication with both said tension box and main pneumatic,means at one end of said valve box for engagement with means on saidtension box for forcing said valve box toward its seat on said tensionbox, and means at the other end of said valve box for engagement withmeans on said tension box for seating said valve box and for securing itin its seated position.

5. A pneumatic unit including in combi' nation, a tension box, a mainpneumatic, a valve box removably secured to said tension box and inoperative communication with both said tension box and main pneumatic,wedge shaped means at one end of said valve box for engagement withmeans on said tension box for forcing said valve box toward its seat onsaid tension box, and hand operated means at the other end of said valvebox for engagement with means on said tension box for seating said valvebox and for securing it in its seated position under tension.

6. A pneumatic unit including in combination, a tension box, a mainpneumatic, a valve box removably secured to said tension box and inoperative communication with both said tension box and main pneiimatic,wedge shaped means at one end of said valve box for engagement withmeans on said tension box for forcing said valve box toward its seat onsaid tension box and pivotally mounted means on said valve box forengagement with means on said tension box for adjustably locking saidvalve box in seated position relatively to said tension box.

7. A pneumatic unit including in combi nation, a tension box, a mainpneumatic, a valve box removably secured to said tension box and inoperative communication with both said tension box and main pneumatic,wedge shaped means at one end of said valve box for engagement withmeans on said tension box for forcing said valve box toward its seat onsaid tension box, and pivotally mounted means on said valve box forengagement with cam means on said tension box for drawing said valve boxin two directions relatively to said tension box and for locking saidvalve box in seated position relatively to said tension box.

Signed at Fort WVayne, Indiana, this 12 day of June, 1912, before twosubscribing witnesses.

NELS MAGNUSON. Witnesses HERBERT W'. BOND, J OHN M. KUHNs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

